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C. MAHON. TRAOKULBARER.

No. 490,772. l Patented Jan. 31, 189s.

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C. MAHON. TRAGK GLBARBR.

No. 490,772. Patented Jan; 31, 1893.

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TRACKrCLEARER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 490,772, dated January31, 1893.

Application led January 12| 1892. Serial No. 417,846. (No model.)

i Washington, in the District of Columbia, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Track-Clearers, of `which the following is a full andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,making part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of apparatus for removingobstructions from car tracks or preventing accidents thereon and isparticularly adapted for use with cable or electric cars wherein guardplanks are em# ployed and:-

My invention consists ink a novel construction of main and auxiliaryfenders acting automatically and conjointly to close the space betweenthe edge of the guard plank and track, and operating in such manner thatthe main fender shall, in being depressed, act to depress the. auxiliaryfender, and return to its normal position.

It further consists in providing the auxiliary fender with a flexibleengaging surface whereby the same may accommodate itself to inequalitiesor fixed projecting portions of the track system and to certain detailsin the construction and arrangement of parts all as hereinafterexplained.

In the accompanying drawings; Figurel is a perspective view of anelectric car showing my improvement applied thereto, in which case theguard plank is shown arranged in an` inclined position. Fig. 2 is an endview of one form of the device wherein the auxiliary fender is pivotedat its upper end to the inner side of the main fender and with a link inturn connecting it with the guard plank with the device in its extendedposition. Fig. 3 is an end View of the same with the device closed. Fig.4 is an end View of a construction similar to Figs. l and 2 except thata guide bail is arranged near the lower edge'of the guard plank tosupport and guide the auxiliary fender. Fig. 5 is a similar view whereinthe auxiliary fender is pivoted to the guard plank and the linkconnected to the main fender and the guide and support secured to anddepending from the main fender. Fig. 6 is a plan or top view of asection of car truck showing the arrangement of the devices'on a guardplank. Fig. 7 is a side view of the device showing the same applied toan inclined guardV plank with the de- Vice extended. Fig. 8 is asimilarview with the device closed. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of thedevice, partly broken away, showing the brush of the auxiliary fendermade longer at a p oint in line with'the grooveof the rail so as toextend into the same when'` depressed.

Theguard. plank A may be of any usual or preferred construction such asnow ingeneral use on cable and electric cars.

B represents the main fender which is preferably composed of heavygalvanized sheet iron and which is provided at its upper edge with pivotbearings preferably formed by bending sheet iron around aformer and thenback upon itself and riveted as shown at d. The fender has connected toits front face near its lower edge a strip b made in angle form which inconnection with the lower edge of the fender forms a recess for thereception of a flexible strip, b, whichacts as a feeler and shove offforthe main fender.` Connected to the main fender B. and preferably aboutcentrally thereof, is an arm D. which curves backward and lies in aplane about at right angle to the plane of fender, forming acounterbalance or weight to hold the main and auxiliary fenders raisedor extended, but of such weight that while serving to hold the fendersextended permits them to be readily forced into their closed positionwhen meeting an obstruction, and returns them to their normal positionwhen the object has been rei moved. An eye d, is formed at the free endof the arm to permit the attachment thereto of additional weight iffound desirable. The main fender thus constructed is connected to theguard plank, by means of a rod or pivot pin passing through the pivotbearings, the v rod or pin being supported by means of eye bolts orscrews a, connected to the plank and by means of which screws or boltsthe position of the fender relative to the plank may be changed atpleasure as occasion Ishall require to bring it in proper relation tothe ground as hereinafter explained. An adjust- IOO las

able stop pin co2 is connected to the guard` plank at a point under thearm, and. by the engagementof the arm therewith serves to fix thedistance of the fenders above the track surface and permit the changingof the distance as occasion shall require.

C is an auxiliary fender which may be either pivoted to the main fenderas shown in Figs, 1. 2, 3, 6, and 7 and connected to the guard plankthrough alink, or pivoted to the plank and connected to the main fenderthrough a link as shown in Fig. 4, the action of the device under eitherarrangement being the same. This auxiliary fender is also composedlpreferably of sheet iron formed in a similar manner to the main fenderand having a recess formed in its lower edge to receive a flexible stripor brush c.

In Figs. 3 and 4f is shown a guide or support for the lower part of theauxilary fender, in one case being shown connected to the guard plankandl in the other to the main fender, to depend therefrom.

The device is connected to the guard plank or other part of the carframe or truck, and the parts to each other so that the lower edge ofthe main fender will be about from two to four inches above the track G.G. when the device is in its closed position, whilethe auxiliary fenderwill be brought into direct engagement therewith and when closed willlie parallel and closely against the plank as shown in Figs. 2 and 7.

A shield F, is secured to the guard plank with its lower corner adjacentto the fender left free and extending over the inner edge of saidfenders and made of yielding or spring material, which shield acts toclose the space between the fenders and guard plank when the same areextended, and also as a guide to carry an obstruction past the edge andover onto the fender and into such position as to` act thereon to closeor depress said fenders, being adapted to close into the same plane withthe fenders and to return to its normal position when released from theobject.

By the construction as above described it will be seen, that by the useof a main and auxiliary fender, while the entire space between the guardplank and track will be closed when the car comes in contact with anobstruction, at the Sametime the device when elevated or extended willnot project far enough out from the car to render its use objectionable,or to be rendered liable to ringL ingwhen not in use. i

The operation of the device is as follows;-- as the car is being drawnor propelled over the track, should any object of sufcient size needremoval, or such as will not pass under the edge of the main fender, andmore particularly the body or limb of a human being, such object will,by coming in contact with the main fender, act to force the samebackward or depress the same, and through its connection with theauxiliary fender cause the same to .be also depressed-and close theentire space between the edge of the guard plank and track in time toprevent the object wedging or passing under the guard plank to thewheels. Attached near the outer edge of the auxiliary fender :is a toepiece E made to extend a sufficient distance below the lower edge of thefender and in such position thereon that when the fenders are depressedthe toe piece will be forced into the groove ofthe rail at e, to preventany article--such as the clothing of a person-under any possibilitypassin g under the fenders. In some cases, instead of forming the toepiece of a separate piece, the bristles of the brush at the point whichmoves over the groove may be made of s ufticient length to lill thegroove, while the mainv bristles rest on the tread of the track as shownat e in Fig. 8.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is;-

, l. In a device for removing obstructions from car tracks, a verticallyarrangedv main fender adapted to be pivoted to the frame or truck of acar, and avertically arranged auxiliary fender connected to the mainfender and also adapted to be connected to the guard plank, the twoarranged to be brought together substantially as described whereby thefenders act conjointly to close thespace between 'the guard plank andtrack when applied to the car as set forth.

2. In a device for removing obstructions from car tracks, a verticallyarranged main fender adapted to be connected to the car frame or truck,a vertically arranged auxiliary fender connected thereto and adapted tobe actuated thereby the two arranged to be brought together to close thespace between the guard plank and track and a counterbalancesubstantially as described, whereby the fenders are automaticallyreturned and held in their normal positionafter being released from anobstruction as set forth.

3. In a device for-removing obstructions from car tracks, a main fenderadapted to be pivoted to the car frame or truck, an auxiliary fenderpivoted to the rear face of the main fender, a link to connect theauxiliary fender with the car frame or truck, and a counterbalanceweight to act on the fenders substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

' 4C. In a device for removing obstructions from car tracks, a mainfender adapted to be pivoted to the car frame or truck, having its loweredge made of yielding or flexible material, and an auxiliary fendersecured in rear thereof and adapted to be actuated thereby,substantiallyas set forth.

5. In a device for removing obstructions from car tracks, a main fenderadapted to be pivoted to the car frame or truck, and an auxiliary fenderconnected to and actuated thereby made in brush form, said fendersacting IOO IIO

ige

- 490,772 v v a conjointly to close the space between their inner edgesof the fenders support and the track, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

6. In a device for removing obstructions from car tracks, a main andauxiliary fender connected to the guard plank and to each othersubstantially as described, and a spring shield having one portionSecured to the guard plank and its free portion to extend over the asand for the pur- 1o pose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set i my hand this 12th day ofJanuary, A. D. 1892.

CHAS. MAI-ION.

